Disneyland raises the prices of tickets and has a new system of park entry requiring guests to reserve their spot on a day they desire. Instead of the usual way of showing up to the park as one pleases. 

 Photo by Jasmine Contreras

By Catalina Garcia, Staff Reporter

Disney Magic, the most powerful magic in the world. Never dwindling or fading no matter how old we get and how much society forces us to grow up. But what if that neverending magic has died? 

With Disney’s new CEO, Bob Chapek, the prices of tickets rose to high prices and the new tier system of going to the Disney Parks. It’s nearly impossible to go even if you sell your arm and leg. For the cheapest annual pass, the Magic Key pass costs about $649.

Even with the annual pass, we are not guaranteed admission. All of their annual passes rely on a “reservation-based” admission. In the fine print of the annual pass page, it states, “To enter a theme park, each Magic Keyholder must have a theme park reservation in addition to a valid Magic Key pass. Park reservations are limited and subject to availability […] A Magic Key pass does not guarantee admission or access to any experience, attraction or offering or to park entry.” 

When spending this much money, guests would expect to be able to show up whenever they wished to and not have to plan their Disney days a month in advance. This was the freedom with the older method of annual passes. One purchased their pass, activated it, and was able to get their dose of magic whenever they pleased.   

This method was originally implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Disneyland Resort parks were strictly open to California residents and they had to reserve a day and time at each park to help with social distancing and stay within the state’s health regulations at the time. 

Now that the state’s borders are open and guests can come from all over the country, many thought that the reservation policy would be lifted. Much to their dismay, when they showed up at the park’s gates on that fateful day in April; they were turned away at the gates due to them not having a reservation. 

Those who don’t want to buy an annual pass will have to buy a day ticket or a multi-day ticket. Buying a ticket shouldn’t bring dread and regret. Buying a ticket would always bring a feeling of excitement, and the little kid in someone would awaken and spark a light of youth in the soul. 

Now, the tickets for the park hopper ticket are over $200 if you want to go on a weekend date. Keep in mind, you have to reserve your date ahead of time. There are specific dates on which guests can go to either park they choose first. Or guests can pick a day where only one park is available. 

Another thing that is dwindling the Disney magic is the new lands that they built. In May 2019, Disneyland opened their new land-themed after their franchise, “Star Wars” called “Galaxy’s Edge”.  

In July 2021, Disney opened their Marvel-themed park “Avengers Campus” in relation to their films and newly released shows. 

With these new lands being opened, it feels as though the Disneyland Resort parks are trying to integrate as much as they can rather than keep the appeal of the Princess castle and the adorable bright lights of Main Street, USA. With the horrible meshing of lands of superheroes and Sci-Fi, it’s as though Disney is trying to shove these franchises down the consumer’s throats. All while putting a bigger price tag on everything from tickets to the food you buy.

At the restaurant, “Pym’s Test Kitchen”, one of the chicken sandwiches that is served is $15.49. It is the size of a normal chicken sandwich with the illusion that the chicken patty is bigger than the bun. But it is, in fact, a regular-sized chicken patty between an extremely small bun. 

Everything at Disneyland has become more expensive than it was, being around $154, from tickets down to food, it is starting to feel as though the common family household will not be able to go to Disneyland anymore. 

In an article by Deadline, they mention that Disneyland had raised their prices at least five times within the past five years. In 2017, ticket prices for one day were $124. Then $134 in 2018, $149 in 2019, $154 in 2020, $159 in 2021 with it set to change to $164 in the new tier they have implemented. 

Disneyland feels as if it is a luxury place and those that come from higher class are the only ones that will and are the only ones that can afford to go to the parks. 

Granted, there is still a mass amount of people that still believe in Disney magic and are willing to pay extreme prices to get their dose of pixie dust. But to many more, it seems that the magic has dwindled and faded, and no price is worth paying if it puts them in debt.